Lou Yi knew that the people giving lessons at the Martial Arts Hall weren’t necessarily the same every day, but they were all inner disciples of the hall, their martial arts cultivation having already reached a certain level.
People like us, either pay money or use connections to get in.
Before becoming a martial artist, we’re not considered true disciples. Hence, every once in a while, there’s a new batch of people.
He heard Senior Brother Chen say:
"My name is Chen Muju, and I’ve been in the hall for five years. These days, I’m responsible for teaching you the basics of boxing.
Since there are newcomers today, I’ll repeat some words once more."
"Our Extreme Fist Sect is founded on boxing, and boxing is the root. As newcomers, you must lay a solid foundation and practice boxing to a certain level, only then can you be taught the Breathing Technique."
"If your practice is inadequate, not only will you not receive the True Inheritance, but over time, you won’t even qualify to stay here."
Hearing about the ’Breathing Technique,’ Lou Yi was moved and asked, "Dare I ask, Senior Brother Chen, to what extent must we practice to meet the standard?"
"That’s a good question." Chen Muju glanced at Lou Yi and continued, "In our Extreme Fist Sect, the focus is on the word ’extreme’ in the middle. As the name implies, it means to deliver a punch that exceeds one’s own limits; it’s either you die or I perish!
Therefore, the punch must be fast, accurate, and ruthless."
He tightened his legs, his back arched like a bow, his waist taut as a string, and his right arm was like an arrow as he threw a punch at a forty-five-degree angle into the sky.
When the fist reached its limit, the lines of his sleeve seemed to continue flowing forward.
A crisp firecracker sound startled everyone, bringing a look of amazement to their eyes.
"What a powerful punch," someone praised.
"Do you think I used a lot of strength?" Chen Muju shook his head.
He continued punching with the same movement, repeatedly throwing the punches.
Each sound was louder than the last, until it made everyone’s eardrums ache. Read complete versıon only at Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Everyone’s eyes were filled with astonishment.
"This sound isn’t entirely based on sheer brute force, but also on the cohesiveness of the body. The bones work together as one, forming a whole to deliver this punch.
When you can produce this sound one day, you’ll have entered the basics of boxing. Once your Qi-Blood reaches the standard, you’ll qualify to learn the Breathing Technique."
"About how long does it take to produce the sound? I’ve been practicing for a month without success." The questioner was a young man with a gentle and fair appearance, tall and slender.
His hair was tied with a milky-white jade hairpin, and his waist’s golden belt was studded with dragon and phoenix patterns, clearly indicating high lineage.
"The record in our sect is twenty-one days," Chen Muju said, "but that’s for someone with an exceptionally extraordinary aptitude. For normal people, producing the sound in three months is good enough."
"But if you can’t do it within a year, the Extreme Fist Sect does not accept mediocrity, so please find another pursuit."
After the introduction, Chen Muju began teaching everyone how to practice boxing, move by move.
"Trying to produce the sound directly is unlikely for you all, so you need to start with layered forms for accumulating power, which also helps in aligning muscles and bones."
"Press, push, shock, swing, then deliver that upward hook punch."
Chen Muju broke down the moves and demonstrated.
First, both arms and the waist pressed downward together, fists pushing slowly forward. Then, the body gave a forceful shock and a swing, finally concentrating power to deliver a fully charged punch.
The most typical Chain Fist includes five steps, and of course, there are other techniques.
Lou Yi compared with the boxing techniques he learned in the Illusion Realm and found overlaps. Such as commonly used straight punches, cross punches, hook punches, thrust punches, and the method of standing stance.
There were also differences, such as using the waist, abdomen, back, and legs all together without holding back when delivering the punch to release all the power.
If one punch misses, the next punch must follow immediately, giving the opponent no chance to react.
This is the feature of the Extreme Fist Sect—punches are primarily fierce, leaving the outcome to either you die or I perish.
Lou Yi’s Basic Boxing Technique had already reached a proficient realm, so he quickly integrated the techniques of the Extreme Fist Sect, causing changes in his Attribute Panel:
[Cultivation Technique: Hu Family Breathing Technique (Uninitiated 0/10)]
[Skills: Lou’s Axe Skill (Proficient 0/100), Extreme Fist (Adept 0/30), Stone Throwing (Proficient 0/30), Light Body Technique (Adept 0/20), Basic Spear Technique (Initiated 0/6), Secret Skill: Dragon Piercing Technique - Fragment (One)]
[Talent: Petrification (Initiated 0/20+1 Stone Spirit)]
The former Basic Boxing Technique (Proficient 0/30) changed to Extreme Fist (Adept 0/30).
Having reached an adept level of Extreme Fist, Lou Yi can easily produce the firecracker sound.
But having just arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, he didn’t want to stand out too much.
After all, given his age, he’s conspicuous. He plans to observe for some time before gradually showcasing his talent.
The record is twenty-one days, and it took him a month, which seems reasonable, right?
Inner disciple Chen Muju stayed at the Martial Arts Training Ground for only an hour before leaving in a hurry.
The remaining disciples did not slack off, either practicing stance or making the most of the time to practice boxing, with ’huff and puff’ sounds constantly ringing around.
They either entered relying on connections or silver taels, but they’ve only initially gained the qualification to learn martial arts.
If they don’t work hard, they’ll be swept away a year later.
"Your boxing looks quite decent." The small-eyed youth who whispered to Lou Yi earlier noticed Lou Yi practicing boxing, brightened his eyes, and came over.
"Just messing around," Lou Yi laughed.
"Is that so? How about we spar?" the small-eyed youth suggested.
"Sure," Lou Yi didn’t refuse.
The two stood facing each other for a spar, exchanging blows in attacking or defending, each strike deliberate and precise.
A moment later, the small-eyed youth stopped, feeling dejected.
"Forget it, forget it. I thought you’d be much stronger, but you’re not much better than I am. I’ll practice on my own."
"I just got here, how could I be stronger than you?" Lou Yi said.
The small group who had been watching them pulled their gazes back.
Lou Yi even heard the mocking laughter from the Main Courtyard disciples but didn’t mind.
"Miss Jia, look at those two bumpkins. They’ve just started practicing boxing, and they’re already posing as experts, how ridiculous, hahaha."
The gentle, fair-skinned youth who earlier complained about how difficult boxing was, was now in front of the female disciple Jia Hong, pointing and sneering in Lou Yi’s direction.
"They haven’t been exposed to boxing before and naturally don’t understand its intricacies. How could they be like Young Master Huang, who has familial expertise and has explored various martial arts?" Jia Hong gently opened her red lips, her voice sweet, making one feel warm.
The gentle Huang surnamed youth, upon hearing, showed joy but modestly said, "Miss Jia overpraises me. I’m not as good as you say. Just look, I haven’t even managed to produce the Extreme Fist sound yet."
"I believe that with Young Master Huang’s level, you’ll achieve it soon."
"Haha, then I must practice hard, I can’t let Miss Jia down on your expectations!" the gentle youth, as if invigorated, started practicing his punches earnestly on the side.
The Martial Arts Training Ground was large, but the disciples were distinctly divided into two areas for practice.
Thirty to forty disciples from the side courtyard squeezed into the western half.
Fewer than ten from the Main Courtyard, along with several female disciples, occupied the eastern half.
After practicing for a while, Lou Yi felt a bit bored.
His true aptitude was very ordinary, relying purely on practice. Even after ten days and nights, his Attribute Panel might not change.
So, he seized an opportunity to step out of the training ground and walked outside the hall.
Upon leaving, he saw a familiar figure waiting not far away.